Blog by Beebe Cline

10 Reasons to Try a Moroccan Rug

You've seen them staring up at you from the floors
of some of your favorite home photos and even in posh modern hotels.
Moroccan carpets have become something of an obsession among the design
crowd, and if you haven't yet hopped on the bandwagon, here are 10
reasons to consider giving one a try. But first, a bit of background.

A very short history of Moroccan carpets. Authentic
Beni Ourain carpets have been made by hand by the people of the Beni
Ourain tribes in the Atlas mountains of Morocco for generations.
Originally used as warm, comfy bed covers, these handwoven carpets are
much plusher and softer than your average area rug.
They are made from the wool of sheep kept at high elevations, which
yields an especially thick, warm fiber in rich cream to beige tones.

The rugs tend to be decorated with geometric or abstract
designs. Since the mid-20th century, they have gained in popularity
worldwide and are now being mass produced by companies from West Elm to
Rugs USA. If you take a look at one up close, the difference between the
real deal and a mass-produced carpet will obvious: The latter tend to
have more regular patterns and whiter white areas (rather than cream or
beige), while the former have natural variations and a much plusher,
softer feel.

1. Trendy yet classic. Moroccan
Beni Ourain carpets have been spotted everywhere from Houzz to the
Parker Palm Springs hotel (shown here), and the trend shows no sign of
slowing. In fact, this "trend" has been going on for so long now, I
think "new classic" is a better term for these much-loved rugs.

2. Super warm and cozy. Made
in the high Atlas mountains of Morocco, these rugs are designed with
warmth in mind. Put a big one in the bedroom and you will make your feet
very happy, especially on chilly winter mornings.

3. Comfortable enough to sit on.
May I suggest a Beni Ourain for the nursery? When you have a little
one, you are bound to spend a lot of time on the floor — and these
carpets are so plush, it's like sitting on a floor cushion. Your knees
will thank you! (Wondering about spills and wear and tear? Don't worry,
that's covered in the next point.)

4. Surprisingly durable. These
carpets haven't been around for generations for nothing — the natural
fibers are extremely durable, and spills are quite easily cleaned when
treated promptly. I wouldn't put one in the entry hall where mucky boots would be trampling it, but otherwise they can really stand up to anything.

5. Work with all colors and patterns. Using
a Beni Ourain carpet is as easy as throwing on a favorite pair of blue
jeans. Its neutral hue and subtle pattern work with colors bright or
subtle, florals, stripes, geometric prints ... and anything else you can
come up with!

6. Utterly cool. Space
feeling a little blah? Instantly up the cool factor of any room with a
Moroccan rug. Coveted by stylish people everywhere, it is capable of
creating a laid-back mood but without the dreaded 70's-rec-room
connotation of shag rugs.

7. Authentic ones are one of a kind. Beni
Ourain carpets are loomed by hand, so each rug is unique. Each one has a
slightly different color, pattern and shape, making this a wonderful
way to personalize your home — even if these rugs are trendy (see point
No. 1), no one will have one quite like yours.

8. Layer up like a dream. Make
your Moroccan carpet go even further by layering it over another
natural-fiber rug, like jute or sisal. This is a great way to make use
of a smaller rug in a big space, and layering will give your Moroccan
rug a slightly more traditional vibe — especially helpful if you want to
blend it into a traditional or transitional space.

9. Pulls an eclectic room together like nobody's business. As
noted already, Moroccan carpets go with all sorts of colors, patterns
and styles, and are undeniably cool — but beyond all of that, they have a
way of drawing the eye and pulling a room together like nothing else
can. You can take a room filled with a mishmash of eclectic finds that
have nothing in common, plunk a Beni Ourain carpet down in the middle of
everything, and it suddenly works. If you love eclectic style, you need one of these carpets.

10. Available at all price points. If
you have been drooling over authentic Moroccan carpets but the real
deal is a little out of your price range, you don't need to feel left
out. Retailers from West Elm (whose rug is shown here) to Pottery Barn
are rolling out their own versions of these popular rugs, and some are
quite high quality. I would advise checking one out in the store before
you buy, so you can assess the quality for yourself.